North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative)

p .o. Box 3266 Wilmington, NC 28406

Seventh Month,2002

Epistle to Friends everywhere,

We send loving greetings to you as we gather at Chowan College from the tenth through the fourteenth of seventh month 2002 for our 305^th session.

In our Bible study and meetings for worship our thoughts have centered on the need for forgiveness in a world where troubles and tension have grown since Ninth Month eleventh of last year. We remain committed to witnessing for the truth that nonviolence and love can overcome evil, and that evil is merely expanded and never overcome by 2reater evil.

We have explored forgiveness from many different angles. In our Bible study with Rubye Braye, we emphasized the spiritual aspects of forgiveness through the love of God through Christ. Jim Bowman presented us with a schematic of the practical structure and process of forgiveness. We also witnessed the palpable fruits of forgiveness in the presentation from Bill Geary and Eddie Soleski on the Quaker worship group at Southern State Correctional Center. The love and hope that Eddie and other inmates have found through this ministry have helped them to forgive themselves and those who have victimized them. Eddie spoke of forgiveness as liberation --the step that allowed him to be truly free when he was released from his physical prison.

Especially moving were the words of Ilise Cohen, Middle East Peace Education Secretary for the AFSC Southeastern Region, who noted that despite Palestinian suffering under Israeli occupation and the destructive impact of the occupation on Israeli society, there is an active peace movement on both sides and a continuing struggle towards forgiveness and reconciliation, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

In the State of the Society reports, many Friends testified that the tense state of world affairs has led to an aggravated level of anxiety among Friends near and far. Friends recalled hearing open scepticism for the peace testimony from members of meetings and teachers at Friends' schools. This is a time when our commitment to our testimonies is tried, and we must reaffirm our corporate witness as individuals, monthly meetings, and yearly meetings.

With our loving greetings we wish you the blessings we continue to experience at these annual gatherings.

On behalf of North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative),

Robert Gosney, Clerk

Durham Meeting, Fayetteville Meeting, Friendship Meeting, Greenville Meeting, Rich Square (Cedar Grove) Meeting, Virginia Beach Meeting, West Grove Meeting, Wilmington Meeting

Website: ncyrnc.org